Barrel



Aug. 15, 1933. H, HOYT 1,922,588

BARREL Filed June 14, 1930 1 I Fi 4- Fig. 5. Fig: 5- Ejg' 7 16 INVENTOR Hazen L. Hoyt,

NEY

Patented Aug. 15, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application June 14, 1930.

13 Claims.

This invention relates to knockdown type of barrels and has for its object to cheapen their construction cost. Another object is to strengthen barrels of this type by the provision of improved reinforcing means capable of being quickly and inexpensively applied.

A variety of'suggestions have been offered for the construction of barrels and containers capable of being taken apart and compactly bundled for return shipment. The problem of making a rigid construction for this purpose and the problem of providing a cheap construction have heretofore been independent and not satisfactorily reconciled in a single construction. Large scale production results in inaccuracies in fit and attachment of certain of the staves which inaccuracies may become cumulative with the result that unless considerable care is exercised the construction deviates from the intended shape to the detriment of its appearance and strength. When staves are cut by machine or hand it is very hard to make them uniform and each of the exact width and similarly difiicult to make each stave straight and bevelled in the precise manner so that inaccuracies do not vary the fit of the group of staves about the barrel It has been suggested to nail trans-' heads. verse bands to each stave but the nailing machine operation is not dependable with the result that the barrel must be gone over by hand in order to have the staves well adapted to stay in place against coming loose in handling. Another suggestion involves boring a hole across the stave intermediate of its faces to receive an in-' ternal reinforcing band but this was not found satisfactory because only atprohibitive cost could the necessary precision be given the construction if distortions and preliminary strains on the barrels were to be avoided and because the bored hole weakens the stave. j

According to this invention the staves are cut preferably from a sheet of wood veneer and are integrally connected to insure their proper'fitting and appearance. Under this invention the flexed sheet is reinforced against thrusts in 1011- gitudinal direction with respect to the staves and against thrusts which are normal to the staves.

This application is a continuationin part of myprior application S. N. 241,477 filed December 21, 1927 for barrel, which application has now .eventuated into the Patent 1,775,224 dated September 9, 1930.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a detail showing a lower corner of a barrel in section, which barrel is like that Serial No. 461,080

described and claimed in the aforementioned patent except that in addition the staves are reinforced against thrusts normal to their surface by a piece of wire such asshown in Fig. 8 inserted between their edges. 7

Fig. 2 shows one Way of reinforcing astraight stave slot against longitudinal thrusts.

Fig. 3 shows the device of Fig. 2 with the sheet flexed to clamp the reinforcing member between the stave edges.

Fig. 4 is a view of a portion of the reinforcing'member of Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a side View of the device shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows a modified type of reinforcing 70 member. 1

Fig. 7 is a side view of the device shown in Fig. 6.

Fig.

Fig. ment.

Fig. 6 and Fig. ment. 80

Fig. 12 shows the reinforcing member of Fig. 7 11 applied to the stave edges.

In Fig. 1 is shown the lower portion of a barrel 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1. 9 shows another type of stave reinforce- 10 shows the reinforcing member of Figs. 7 in position betweenthe stave edges. 11 shows another type of wire reinforcecomprising a flexed sheet of ply-wood 10, having the head 11 and hoop 12. In the embodiment illustrated the staves are integrally connected by flexed stave material and are formed by V shaped slots cut by a high speed cone shaped tool oscillating about its apex to give the sinusoidal shape illustrated and claimed in the prior patent re-. ferred to in which the base of the slot is flattened and substantially straight whilethe walls of the slot have the varying inclinations necessary to give the desired shape. Unlike the prior patent referred to the barrel of Fig. 1 is more strongly reinforced against radial thrusts, that is thrusts substantially normal to the plane of the staves by the provision of a wire between the stave edges as shown in Fig. 8 and preferably extending the full length of the stave slots. The reinforcing member 14 is preferably a soft iron wire out to a length longer than the barrel so that when the stave sheet is flexed to close the stave slots the wire is bent to conform to the serrations of the slot. To cut the stave forming slot of Fig. 8, instead of a. cone shaped cutter previously used the cone cutter is provided with a bulbous. portion to form the seats 18 for the reinforcing wire 14. Each seat 18 is semi-circular in cross section so that the center of the semi-circle is near and preferably below the surface of the cone and ,not on the cutter axis.

In Figs. 2, 3, 8, 10 and 12 for example the sheet is illustrated as being made of three ply material in which the inner ply 15 has its grain extending across the staves or longitudinally of the sheet as does the grain in the outer ply 1'7, while the inner ply 16 has the grain extending longitudinally of the staves. In Figs. 2 and 3the container is reinforced by a metal strip seated in the stave slot 19 as illustrated and as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 provided with laterally projecting teeth 21 and 22 formed by stamping and bending portions of the strip in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5. When the sheet is flexed about the head 11 to close the stave slots the teeth 21 and 22 outinto the stave side edges sufficiently to reinforce the barrel against thrusts longitudinally of the staves.

The reinforcing member shown inFigs. 6 and "Ms similar to that shown in Figs. 2 to 5 except that in addition the reinforcing member 23 is provided with additional teeth 24and arranged at right angles to the teeth 21 and 22 so that when the reinforcing member of Figs. 6 and 7 is-clamped between the stave edges the teeth 24 and 25 are better able to transmit radial thrusts between staves. 'The need for reinforcing the staves against longitudinal thrusts is especially needed in the type of barrel described where the staves are integrally connected by flexed stave material, in order to transmit a longitudinal thrust from one stave to an adjacent stove without having the stress transmitted through the thin flexed material with the possibility of rupture. The means for longitudinally reinforcing the staves takes such stress off t1 e thin flexed material regardless of what type of'reinforcement against longitudinal thrusts is used.

The reinforcing means shown in Figs. 2 to inclusive is adapted foruse in stave slots which are substantially straight while the reinforcing means shown in Fig. 8 is adapted for stave slots which are either straight or sinusoidal as shown in Fi 1 or he hana I In Fig. 9 the staves are reinforced by angularly disposed staples 26 and 2'7- spanning; the stave slot and located on either the inner or outer sur face but preferably on the outer stavesurface where the sheet will be again opened-for reshipment flat The ends .of the staples are preferably bent over as is customarily doneby stapling machines. The staples of 9 provide both longitudinal and radial reinforcement in an inexpensive manner.

Fig. loshows the reinforcing member of Figs G and 7 clamped between the stave edges, The reinforcing members of Figs. 4 to ,7 inclusive preferably extend the full length ofthe staves although if desired; tiey' may extend less than;

that'distance when small openings between the inner stave edges are notobjectionab'le; The reinforcing members of Figs. lto [*might .be set into' thestaveedges so that theyneed not extend the full length of the container and'yet the inner stave edges will be closed, but the countersinking of these reinforcing members is believed to be so'expen'sive that this expedient is not thought practicable. In Fig; 10 it will be seen that the teeth 24 and 25" are formed in the same manner asthe teeth 21 and 22, in eachv case by stamping and bending a portion of. the strip leaving. a. perforation 28 where the pro jection has been stamped from the metal.

contraction The reinforcing wire of Figs. 8, 11 and 12 is preferably seated so that the inner stave edges contact or close the slot as. shown in Figs. 8 and 12. The reinforcing member 29 of Figs. 11 and 12 is the same as that of Fig. 8 except that this latter reinforcing member is adapted primarily for straight stave slots and is provided with laterally projecting teeth formed as illustrated to provide reinforcement for the staves against longitudinal thrusts, that is transmit such thrusts between staves without danger of rupturing the thin flexed portion of material connecting the staves. Instead of the teeth on the reinforcing member 29 being analogous to the teeth 21 and 22 they may be so constructed as to serve a function similar to the teeth 24 and 25 on the reinforcing strip of Figs. 6 and *7, or if desired the reinforcing member 29 may be provided with both types of teeth. Generally however, the shape of the wire seated within its groove is sufficient reinforcement against radial thrusts so that teeth similar to the teeth 24 and 25 of Figs. 6 and '7 will not be needed.

It will be noted in each case the stave forming slot whether straight or of other shape is not pointed but flattened at the base for a short distance. This is for a two-fold purpose. Having the base of the slot of substantial width is equivalent to widening'the' flexed portion of material connecting the staves and reduces the localization and concentration of bending stresses so that there is less danger of rupture. Because all wood, especially if not formed by multiplys is susceptible to changes in shape or expansion and with temperature and moisture changes in the atmosphere, such expansion is generally greatest across the grain and since it is desirable to have asubstantial portion of the staves constituted from material having the grain longitudinal it will be seen there is likelihood of some expansion transversely of the staves even when this expansion is minimized by the presence of angularly disposed grains in the inner and outer plys.

If the. stave slot cross section were sharply pointed at the base it will be appreciated that any expansionin the material constituting the Walls of the slot would impose unnecessary stress and danger of rupture. to the thin flexed connecting material, especially if such expansion took place adjacent the base of the slot because the leverage would there be most effective for exerting rupture strains on the thin flexed material. Tofguard against expansion of the slot walls adjacent the base it has been found desirable. to

have the base of the slot of substantial width or slightly flattened as illustrated.

If the croze slots Were of uniform depth. across.

each stave it would be appreciated that when the heads are. round do not conform to the shape of the staves by being polygonal, there will be a tendency for any one or more staves to rock on the head transmitting such rocking movement to adjacent staves through the thin mate" rial \Vhile the reinforcing m ans which prevents transmission of such thrusts to some extent it has been found desirable to still further reduce thetendency for such rockin movement by having the croze of each stave of non-uniform depth, slightly tapering inwardly and. of maximum deptabout midway between the stave side edges. Such a shape will reduce any tendency for one stave torock on the head if the slope to the. croze is greater. than the slope of the head because there will then be a two point contact between each will be seen that the barrel of the present invention is adapted for the transmission of liquids when the staves are waterprcofed and the slots closedwith' waterproof'adhesive. ,It will be desirable to reinforce the chime in anyof several convenient ways such'as by 'providing reinforcing layers on the outside of the head contiguous the staves wherebyif the barrel is dropped obliquely on its edge there will be less tendency for the shock to, break off the chime] The present in vention is not limited to barrels since the scored flexed sheets may beused for other purposes such as ornamental columns, furniture, etc.

It will be appreciated the present invention possesses many advantages over the prior art illustrated for example by Hulbert 1,638,035 by the provision of reinforcements between the staves for longitudinal and radial thrusts, the absence of any necessity for chemical and heat treatment to change the natural flexure of the wood fibres, the provision of square corners at .the inner stave edges unlike Hulbert where the tooth or die used would be likely to leave irregular corners, and in the ability of the present invention to be shipped flat without distortion of the staves, and adaptability to be used over again.

The sinusoidal and other shapes for the inner stave edges whereby thrusts are transmitted longitudinally between staves by serrations on the inner stave edges has been claimed in the prior patent referred to and is not therefore'claimed herein.

I claim:

1. A container comprising staves integrally connected by flexed stave material, the staves being formed by rows of scoring of V shaped cross-section having the base of the V of substantial width means for reinforcing said scoring to transmit stresses which are'longitudinal of the staves, between adjacent staves without most of such thrusts being transmitted through the flexed stave material, said reinforcing means engaging the stave side edge surfaces.

2. A container comprising staves integrally connected by flexed stave material, the staves being formed by rows of scoring of V shaped crosssection having the base of the V of substantial Width, means of different material from said staves for reinforcing said scoring to transmit stresses which are normal to the stave faces to protect the flexed stave material, said reinforcing ;-means engaging the stave side edge surfaces.

3. A sheet of material provided with rows of scoring shaped to localize flexure and to limit the amount of flexure of the materialabout scoring and including a reinforcing strip within the scoring, said reinforcing strip being nonyieldablelongitudinally of the scoring.

4. A sheet of material provided with rows of scoring shaped to localize flexure and to limit the amount of fiexure of the material about said scoring and including a reinforcing strip within the scoring, said strip cooperating with the material to reinforce the same against thrusts longitudinal of the scoring, and said strip being nonyieldable within the scoring.

5. A sheet of material provided with rows of scoring shaped to localize flexure and to limit the amount of flexure of the material about said scoring and including a reinforcing strip within the scoring, said strip cooperating with the material to non-yieldably reinforce the same against thrusts longitudinal of the scoring and thrustssubstantially normal to the sheetof material.

1 6. A sheet of material provided with rows of scoring shaped to localize flexure and to limit the amount of flexure of the material about said scoring and including a reinforcing strip within the scoring, said strip cooperating with the material to reinforce the same against thrusts longitudinal of the scoring and said strip being provided with teeth which project into the sheet, the plane of said teeth being substantially normal to a longitudinal axis to the scoring.

7. A sheet of material provided with rows of scoring shaped to localize fiexure and to limit the amount of fiexure of the material about said scoring and including a reinforcing strip within the scoring, said'strip cooperating with the ma terial to reinforce the same against thrusts longitudinal of the scoring and said strip being contiguous to the base of the scoring and the base of said scoring being of substantial width.

scoring shaped to localize flexure and to limit the amount of flexure of the material about said scoring and including a reinforcing strip within the scoring, said strip having teeth flattened on at least one side substantially normal to the scoring and cooperating with the material to reinforce the same against thrusts normal to the sheet of material, and-said strip being of round wire to reinforce the sheet against thrusts normal to thesheet.

9. A sheet of material provided with scoring to localize flexure, said scoring being shaped to limit the amount of the localized flexure and to reinforce the flexed sheet against thrusts longitudinal of the scoring, and metallic means within said scoring for reinforcing the sheets against other thrusts.

l0. A flexible sheet of material having longitudinal rows of scoring of V shaped cross-section to localize flexure of said sheet about said scoring and means for reinforcing said scoring to transmit stresses which are longitudinal of the scoring to protect the flexed sheet material at being in contact, the flexure about the base being distributed due to the width of said base and due to the flexure about the base of each row of V scoring being a minor acute an le, whereby the danger of rupturing the flexed material at the base of the scoring is minimized when the stave side edges contact only nonadjacent the base of said scoring, and means for reinforcing the staves against thrusts longitudinally thereof to protect the flexed stave material at the base of said scoring.

12. A barrel comprising staves integrally connected by flexed stave material, the staves being formed by rows of scoring of V shaped cross- 8. A sheet of material provided with rows of section having the base of the V of sufficient width to cause the sides of the V adjacent the base to be out of contact when said sheet of material is flexed to form the sides of the barrel,

, and only the sides of the V nonadjcaent the base,

being in contact, the flexure about the base being distributed due to the width of said base and due to the flexure about the base of each row of Vv scoring being a minor acute angle, whereby the danger of rupturing the flexed material at and provided with stave forming slots having meeting edges adjacent the inner stave surfaces and extending substantially the full length of the barrel, the staves being flat and the number of staves being large enough to reduce the flexurebetween adjacent staves to a safe amount without rupture for reshipment fiat and reuse, the compactness and density of the fibers being substantially uniform throughout the sheet, the base of the stave forming slots being of substantial width to keep the lower portions of the stave side edge surfaces adjacent the base of said slots out of contact when said sheet is flexed about said head, and the flexed stave materialvbeing provided with reinforcing means to transmit stresses which are longitudinal of the staves without much of such stresses passing through the flexed stave material, and said sheet and reinforcing means being both adapted for ship ment ilat without changing the shape of said reinforcing means.

HAZEN L. HOYT. 

